Experienced
Psychotherapist

Healthy Living
Consultant

Public
Speaker

Community
Advocate

Published
Author

Honored
Professional

Real Help for Real Life Problems
 

MY APPROACH WITH CLIENTS

I have 20 years of experience helping people with all sorts of life challenges. Clients often say they were referred by a friend because of my direct, compassionate, and practical approach. I enjoy a diverse practice with clientele which includes people of differing ethnic and racial backgrounds, of varying sexual orientations and gender identities, and from a spectrum of religious/spiritual belief systems. I strive to be sensitive to the realities affecting us in our similarities and differences. I aim to help clients achieve their goals as soon as possible, or to find another psychotherapist when needed. I am honored to be part of the healing, growth, and transition process for people facing a variety of issues.

I balance caring and careful listening with an active approach which includes giving information, suggesting books, identifying groups and activities to try, transforming negative thinking to positive, and breaking down changes into manageable steps. While providing previously-tested effective tools for making changes, I encourage clients to modify ideas suggested to fit their values and life situations. I know growth must be at a pace clients can live with in order to maintain their progress.

Whatever the presenting concerns, my goal is to aid clients in maximizing their quality of life by helping them to fulfill their dreams, to create the lives they envision, to love and connect with themselves and others, to find meaning in their activities, to live by their values, and to enjoy themselves.

AREAS I FREQUENTLY WORK OR CONSULT IN 

Frequently Seen Concerns

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Life transitions

• Low self-esteem/self-confidence

• Spiritual questioning

Relationship Issues     

• Pre-marital and marital questions and conflicts 

• Same-sex and domestic partner couple counseling

• Assertiveness, anger management, and communication skills

• Parenting

• Divorce

• Grief and loss

Health and Healthy Living Issues

• Compulsive behavior--eating, gambling, excessive exercising, overworking

• Alcohol and drug abuse or addiction

• Coping with a loved one's alcohol or drug problems

• Balanced lifestyles

• Living with HIV and other immune disorders

• Managing gastro-enterology problems and diabetes

• Adjusting to cardiovascular conditions and cancer

• Dealing with chronic illness 

Sexuality and Gender Issues

• Dating and social skills training

• Selecting healthy, compatible mates

• Changing from sexual discomfort to embracing sensuality and sexuality

• Questioning and clarifying sexuality orientation and gender identity

• Coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT)

• Living in, out, and in-between as LGBT

• Transitioning, to whatever degree, through a gender change

• Becoming comfortable with cross-dressing

• Adjusting to a loved one's coming out or questioning with LGBT issues

Trauma Issues

• Emotional, verbal, physical, sexual, and spiritual abuse

• Past (childhood) abuse

• Abuse by partner/spouse (past or present)

• Sexual assault

• Natural disasters

• War/military survivor experiences

• Other life-threatening or extremely distressing events

Work Issues

• Job transitions (e.g., promotions or relocations)

• Considering career changes

• Time and stress management

• Assertiveness, anger management, and communication skills

• Loss of employment